Foundation for SPS Awards Back to School Grants

Glendale teachers and Principal Matt Pearce (center) accept a check for $27,147 for five grants awarded today by Foundation for SPS and CFO officials.

Future Falcons will get to use the future of technology with one of the five grants awarded to Glendale High School, the big winner in today’s announcement of the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools’ annual Back to School grants.

The Foundation for SPS awarded a total of $142,052 for projects at more than 50 district schools; that grant total included a $25,000 catalyst grant from the Community Foundation designated for “high-impact” grants that benefit multiple schools and/or multiple teachers.

Among Glendale’s awards was a $6,599.60 grant for iPads for the school library. Librarian Shellie Foltz said the 10 new tablet computers will be used by students in the A+ Program to tutor students in the 5th-8th grades at Glendale’s feeder schools, students considered “Future Falcons.”

“This type of technology is what’s going to be expected by these students,” said Foltz, who submitted the application with Librarian Marilyn Harris.

Glendale Principal Matt Pearce said he challenged the teachers to apply for grants for resources that aren’t funded through the normal operating budget.

“In this economy, I don’t think any of these opportunities would be funded otherwise,” he said.

Glendale makes a concerted effort to build relationships with students in its feeder schools, starting as early as kindergarten, Pearce said. He thinks offering technology like the iPads and the interaction with the older students is a great way to build interest in preparing for high school.

“We want kids to be excited about being a Falcon one day,” he said.

The other high-impact grants funded by the CFO’s catalyst grant include:

“One reason we are so proud of our Back to School program is because it gives teachers and principals an opportunity to think outside of the box and go above and beyond to provide more opportunities to reach their students,” said Jana Bachus, executive direction of the Foundation for SPS, a CFO agency partner.